Topic: '74 cb550 ... Noisy cam chain, eh?

[cb544]

The warm weather is inspiring isn't it? Makes you feel like you can do anything. So I pulled myself into the garage the other day and spent a few hours cleaning, organizing, rebuilding... anything to make me feel like I can complete this project.

I've taken another look at the fuel tank and noticed another pinhole forming on the left-hand bottom seam... I will try to patch this and seal with a POR15, but I'm not very confident in this...

I do need to find a good welder in Boston (Brighton area) to fix my 4-1 pipes... there is a crack on the underbelly, plus it'd be nice to get a serious pipe-cleaner in there. Is it possible to refinish exhaust pipes? The steel is there...









Have you seen that scaley residue in the exhaust ports before? Wondering what that could mean...


Well- I hope you enjoyed. Wish me luck, and good with all of yours!



[youtube=425,350]dbFWLN6E8MA[/youtube]

[Zaipai]

It looks like you have your work cut out for you however it seems like a great project. As for the white stuff, I have seen if before but can't speak to what it is. As for the exhaust I have seen them fixed before and work well. It just depends on how well its done and how bad it is.

.: Scott :.

[cb544]

It looks like you have your work cut out for you however it seems like a great project. As for the white stuff, I have seen if before but can't speak to what it is. As for the exhaust I have seen them fixed before and work well. It just depends on how well its done and how bad it is.

.: Scott :.

A lot of work- but a little at a time, a full day here and there, and a lot of confidence... Here's a picture from today. I've resolved to spend as little as possible until I can try the motor for the first time, and that means I'll need to buy a soldering iron.



Any advice on soldering irons?

[Zaipai]

A good iron is all that is needed. You are not soldering circuit boards so it does not have to be real pricey.. but don't get the cheapest one either... I have one that was middle of the road about 20 years ago and it works fine for this sort of stuff.. Make sure the connection are really clean before you start and make sure you have good solder to start with and you will be just fine..

I like this one from Amanzon.com about $30.00 however others may have a better one to choose from.



.: Scott :.

[cb544]

We have lights! and a horn!


The side markers are slow, and don't flash (are they even supposed to?), and the headlight doesn't seem to work, but I've gotten the handlebars nearly done and all the wires back as they were.

I soldered some new spark plug wires onto the ignition coils, replaced 3/4 spark plugs (I need that thin wall socket... Home Depot or a small engine repair shop perhaps?) and went to try the starter but I received only silence.

:sigh:

[Zaipai]

Great, keep it up. Yes they should blink.. perhaps you need to replace the relay for them.. Still keep at it you are getting there..

.: Scott :.

[cb544]

Thank you sir- an update: the headlight works, and the starter turns!

When I bridge the starter button wire and the handlebars the starter turns but no ignition. Perhaps I rebuilt the switch poorly.

I have found spark out of 1/3 plugs that I can test (the 4th I cannot remove because I don't have the factory tool kit...) I believe the carbs are plugged because I didn't smell fuel on the plugs after the test cycle.

The side markers still do not flash- thanks Zaipai for clearing that up for me.

Should there be a low beam on the headlight? Perhaps my Hi-Lo switch needs to be rebuilt/sprayed?


Other than that, I think I need to buy a new set of coils...

[75cb550 (kyle)]

should have high and low beam.
you can get the deep 18mm at any hardware store.
as far as soldering irons go i love the butane ones. i have a bluepoint from my techin' days but also a couple plug ins that work just as good (especially when you run out of fuel).
you gonna go original on the paint? ive also loved that orange.

[cb544]

should have high and low beam.
you can get the deep 18mm at any hardware store.
as far as soldering irons go i love the butane ones. i have a bluepoint from my techin' days but also a couple plug ins that work just as good (especially when you run out of fuel).
you gonna go original on the paint? ive also loved that orange.

I love the orange flake too, and will keep the tank lookin "ugly" for as long as I can (or until I find a nice flat top Dunstall style tank that I like- gotta be able to put my "tools" down on a surface) In the long run I'm going with very little paint.

I bought an 18mm from Autozone but was too thick- and I haven't been able to find a thin wall anywhere. I will check Home Depot today.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

should have high and low beam.
you can get the deep 18mm at any hardware store.
as far as soldering irons go i love the butane ones. i have a bluepoint from my techin' days but also a couple plug ins that work just as good (especially when you run out of fuel).
you gonna go original on the paint? ive also loved that orange.

I love the orange flake too, and will keep the tank lookin "ugly" for as long as I can (or until I find a nice flat top Dunstall style tank that I like- gotta be able to put my "tools" down on a surface) In the long run I'm going with very little paint.

I bought an 18mm from Autozone but was too thick- and I haven't been able to find a thin wall anywhere. I will check Home Depot today.

hmm... both my craftsman 18mm and snap on fit... sorry. i figured all the thin walls would... oops

[cb544]

hmm... both my craftsman 18mm and snap on fit... sorry. i figured all the thin walls would... oops

I guess I don't really have a thin wall socket... I'll see what I can scrounge up and post again today after a few more hours in  the garage.

Man this is exciting.... she backfired this morning after charging all night. I have not been able to get a low beam on the headlight- and the turn signals still don't flash/buzz...  I'm still not sure if I have spark in all 4 banks, or that fuel is getting through the carbs either... perhaps I will take the carbs off today, soak them, and test the coils I rebuilt. My Dremeling wasn't very accurate, so I may have blown the integrity of the coils..

Also, the start button issue is getting to me. How come the starter turns when I ground it to the handlebars? It looks like it should work as I rebuilt it...

[75cb550 (kyle)]

the flash/buzz issue may be due to a low battery. ran into the same thing on the Goldwing. i thought we needed a relay when all we needed was a new battery. even the new battery wont do it if it's run down... let it run up for a bit and then try it.. that may be your whole problem.

[cb544]

the flash/buzz issue may be due to a low battery. ran into the same thing on the Goldwing. i thought we needed a relay when all we needed was a new battery. even the new battery wont do it if it's run down... let it run up for a bit and then try it.. that may be your whole problem.

Interesting... it has been charging for a couple of days now. It is a new battery from Autozone, which came in a kit (I had to fill it with a solution, etc...)... Is it normal for a battery to take so long to charge? I've been using a Battery Tender Junior. I have regrounded the battery (perhaps I need to reground the headlight assembly as well?)

I just stopped at True Value and picked up a spark plug tool but I still can't get that plug out.... looks like I'm going to Home Depot...

[cb544]

I've been running through this site so much that I figured I owed you guys some more information.

Here are a few pictures of my setup.




I setup a canopy for the rain:




Working at night is not impossible...




Rebuilt coils:




As it stands, the starter turns (it backfires every now and then), I know I have spark although weak in one cylinder (I can't get one plug out, no matter which wrench/socket I buy) and the other two don't seem to have spark. My rebuilt coils may need to be replaced, and I need to rewire the controls as the start button doesn't work.... Still no lo beam, and the side markers don't flash/buzz... Looks like the battery isn't charging fully? I'm investigating... I'll keep you posted

UPDATE: I got fire out of two of the cylinders... still no luck getting that spark plug out or finding the proper socket...  Lo beam seems to be fine tho. The more it sits, the more it works... very strange to me...

[cb544]

Here's a video of me trying to start my bike this afternoon... Obviously I was not successful.

[youtube=425,350]tMm53jNGS98[/youtube]

Funny noises eh?

[75cb550 (kyle)]

Hey Adam, i went on my first legal ride last night and my battery was low. when i pulled up to the first stop light the turn signals would just stay on. if i gave it a little throttle they would start working. so im in the same boat... once i got a mile down the road, they worked fine.

[cb544]

Hey Adam, i went on my first legal ride last night and my battery was low. when i pulled up to the first stop light the turn signals would just stay on. if i gave it a little throttle they would start working. so im in the same boat... once i got a mile down the road, they worked fine.

Interesting... well thanks for the heads up. The battery is charging right now, so we'll see what happens with mine.

Must have been an awesome ride- glad you got that battery up to par.

[75cb550 (kyle)]

it is frustrating, since it is about a month old. i guess thats what you get for buying the cheapest battery there is. it's normally fine if i start it every couple days... these old bikes dont like 1-2 week breaks

[cb544]

[youtube=425,350]dbFWLN6E8MA[/youtube]

So, for some reason the start button works now, and I was able to kick start her... I got the Kerker Muffler on but it sounds like I have a pretty bad exhaust leak. My brother thinks maybe a valve adjustment or spun rod bearings at worst.

The carbs are soaking now... and my friend was able to finagle that #2 spark plug out...

[Zaipai]

YES!!! Its the little victories that keep us going...

Gratz!

.: Scott :.

[cb544]

I picked up this fuel tank off ebay for $100... looks clean inside, but I can still smell the spray paint, which is bubbling at the seams and under the cap cover where it was obviously not prepped well. Fits well except for the seat which I may take down to the pan, reshape and have professionally recovered. I'd like to have the tank professionally painted- does anybody know of a reputable place in the Boston area for either of these two jobs?



A couple of shots in the sun with the old tank...






The Godfather of Soul helping me through the build

[Zaipai]

Good score, clean tanks are getting harder and harder to find. Could be a cottage industry there some place for some one that can fabricate replica's cheap..

.: Scott :.

[Stev-o]

How 'bout "Nameless"?!?

[Hasenkopf]

how about "Bubba Zanetti"

[cb544]

Bubba's got a good ring to it- but it's gonna be nameless for now..